Travel cases

ABSTRACT

A compact travel case and storage case having individualized bottle compartments that partially conform to the shape of the bottles to thereby hold the bottles in a position where they can readily be viewed and removed by the user.

United States Patent 1191 Washburn et al. 1 Jan. 9, 1973 s41 TRAVEL CASES 1,791,417 2/1931 Lilienfield ..206/45.14 x [75] Inventors: Oliver K. Washburn, white Bean gig??? 2:32? 33/ is L R MI ones, [.6 a. si r g? 33 washbum 2,563,157 8/1951 Castelli ..206/45.14 X 2,644,578 7/1953 Bran'iining ..220/17 Assigneez w. 0. washburn & n Inc. St. 1,947,382 2/1934 Crowley ..220/42 A X Paul, Minn. [22] Filed: March e Primary ExaminerLe onard Summer [21]. A l N 125 063 Attorney-Stryker &'Jacobson [52] [1.8. CI ..l32/80 R, 132/79 R, 206/47 R, ABSTRACT A compact travel case and storage case havmg 1nb2/t q? dividualized bottle compartments that partially cone 'i'g fl l zzoln 42 form to the shape of the bottles to thereby holdthe bottles in a position where they can readilybe viewed [56] References Cited and emYed by h r v v UNITED STATES PATENTS 105,269 7/1870 Spencer .....206/45.14 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 9 I975 3.709.235

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sHAMPoo Hp' INVENTORS F/g 3 ROBERT M. WASHBURN ouvm WASHBUR/V ATTORNEYS TRAVEL CASES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to small travel cases and, more specifically, to travel cases that compactly and securely hold bottled personal items of a traveler.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART There are numerous travel cases or ditty bags on the market today that are designed to hold the small personal items of todays traveler. The cases come in numerous shapes and sizes and-are made from a variety of materials. Typically, some cases are made from pliable or rigid plastic with either a square or rectangular cross-sectional area in order that a number of bottles containing the travelers personal items can-be stored therein. Other types of cases are pliable pouch-like sacks where a traveler randomly stores his personal items and miscellaneous articles. However, these prior art travel cases are usually both inefficient and bulky. Also, if the traveler randomly tosses any bottled personal items made of glass into the case, there is a possibility that the glass bottle will break. .In addition, with todays delay in baggage checking stations, travelers are inclined to pack all their personal items into a tote case that can be carried with them at all times. This saves time waiting for baggage, however, it also requires the traveler to efficiently and compactly pack his travel case as well as his tote case.

Another disadvantage of the prior art travel cases is that they are not especially suited for holding the personal items of the traveler in a viewable condition when he wishes to use them.

The present invention purports to overcome the problems of the prior art travel cases by providing a travel case that compactly and efficiently holds personal items in a viewable position during use by the traveler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises in its preferred embodiment a cylindrical base that has spacings around the periphery for holding preferably three containers in a pre-oriented upright position within the container. A cover snaps over the base to securely hold the cover and base together to prevent the bottles from falling out of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of our travel case; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the base showing three bottles and a safety razor located within the base; and

' FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral generally designates our travel case comprising a cover 11 and a base 12 Cover 11 is preferably circular in cross section, tapered slightly and'has a slight top indentation 13. Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, base 12 as shown comprises a lower support housing 14 and'an upper contoured arcuate section 15 that has cut away areas or regions 30, 31 and 32 to display the labels or identification markings of products within the container 12. Located between contoured section 15 and housing 14 is a quarter round or ridge 17 that forms abutting engagement against the lower edge of cover 11. Located immediately above ridge 1-7 are three locks 18, 19 and 20 for forming releasable engagement with mating locks on the inside of cover 11. The locks comprise protrusions on the outside of section 15 and on the inside of cover 1 1. The locks or protrusions slide over one another to produce a mating firm hold against each other as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a front elevation view of our invention containing three bottles or containers 24, 25 and 26 and a-safety razor 27. In the preferred embodiment the bottles 24, 25 and 26 are preferably made from a pliable plastic material so that breakage due to rough handling is unlikely to occur. Typically, the travel case may contain such bottled items as shampoo,'aftershave lotion and a deodorant. Note, that the three bottle configurations of the preferred embodiment also includes bottle holding means or members 21-, 22 and 23 that are spaced at approximately intervals on the inside of section 15. Members 21, 22 and.23 are shown as flat webs that extend between the bottles. Members 21, 22 and 23 protrude inward from the inside of member 15 so that two adjacent members coact to provide stops to securely hold a bottle in a pre-orientated position. In an alternate embodiment members 21, 22 and 23 do not project sufficiently inward to hold the containers in their proper place. In the alternate embodiment it is necessary to have a pedestal or base 28 to prevent the bottom of the bottles from moving inward should one of the bottles be removed.

Pedestal or base 28 can also be recessed in base 12 to form a central region to receive the handle of a safety razor or other similar objects. For example, a traveler might carry such items as a styptic pencil, a fingernail clipper, or a tweezer. However, it is preferred that the center region of our container be adapted to hold a safety razor because the central position within the travel case protects the blade edges by preventing any objects from hitting the razor that would thus dull the blade. In addition, it also prevents the blade edges from cutting any object the traveler may be carrying.

The radius of curvature of the inside of section 15 is similar to the radius of curvature of the outside of the bottles. The similarity in surface contours between the bottles and the inside of the travel case allows for a compact efficient use of the space within the travel case.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, three bottles are shown in the upright position within the travel container base 12. In this particular view,'the case is not being used as a travel case but as a display or storage case which the traveler places on the bathroom shelf after having arrived at his motel. In order to use one of the items, the traveler selects the bottle he wants and pulls it out of a particular slot in the case. Because the cut away sections 30, 31 and 32 are located so as to correspond to the labeled portions of the bottle, the traveler can quickly tell what item is in any part of the case. When the traveler is finished, he can place the container back in the proper spot and after he has completed using it,

he can put the cover back on and put it into his suitcase ready to travel with him to his next destination.

We claim:

1. A travel case for holding personal items of a traveler in a compact and pre-oriented position, said case comprising: a base housing, a central recess region therein for receiving identifiable marked personal items of a traveler, said base having a first section for placing on a supporting surface, said base having sides projecting from said first section, said sides operable to partially hold the identifiable marked personal items of a traveler, said sides forming a contoured section, said contoured section having cutaway regions located therein so as to allow the identifiable markings on a personal item located in the recess region in said base to be viewed by a traveler without removing the personal item from the recess region in said base, said sides comprising an upper section for forming engagement with a cover and a lower support housing; said base further having means thereon for forming releasable engagement with a cover; said base including protrusions coacting with the identifiable personal items so that the identifiable marked personal items are maintained in the predetermined position even though one or more of the identifiable marked personal items are removed from said base; a cover, said cover comprising a continuous surface for covering and protectively holding the personal items within the recess of said base, said base having further means located therein for forming releasable engagement with said cover; and a plurality of identifiable marked personal items, said identifiable marked personal items comprising bottles having removable closures thereon, said bottle having at least one surface for forming mating engagement with said contoured section and one surface for partially defining a region so that said plurality of identifiable marked personal items coact to define a region for vided on said base member to provide an abutting surface between said cover and said base. 

1. A travel case for holding personal items of a traveler in a compact and pre-oriented position, said case comprising: a base housing, a central recess region therein for receiving identifiable marked personal items of a traveler, said base having a first section for placing on a supporting surface, said base having sides projecting from said first section, said sides operable to partially hold the identifiable marked personal items of a traveler, said sides forming a contoured section, said contoured section having cutaway regions located therein so as to allow the identifiable markings on a personal item located in the recess region in said base to be viewed by a traveler without removing the personal item from the recess region in said base, said sides comprising an upper section for forming engagement with a cover and a lower support housing; said base further having means thereon for forming releasable engagement with a cover; said base including protrusions for holding the identifiable marked personal items of a traveler in a predetermined position so that the identifiable markings on the personal items are visible when a cover is removed from said base, said protrusions coacting with the identifiable personal items so that the identifiable marked personal items are maintained in the predetermined position even though one or more of the identifiable marked personal items are removed from said base; a cover, said cover comprising a continuous surface for covering and protectively holding the personal items within the recess of said base, said base having further means located therein for forming releasable engagement with said cover; and a plurality of identifiable marked personal items, said identifiable marked personal items comprising bottles having removable closures thereon, said bottle having at least one surface for forming mating engagement with said contoured section and one surface for partially defining a region so that said plurality of identifiable marked personal items coact to define a region for receiving an additional personal item of a traveler.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the protrusion means for holding the bottles in a pre-oriented position comprises protrusions extending radially toward the central region of said base.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein a pedestal is located within said base to provide a support for a safety razor or the like.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein a ridge is provided on said base member to provide an abutting surface between said cover and said base. 